Local drug-delivery system

Abstract

A medical device for delivering a pharmacological agent to a target region of tissue. The device includes a resilient carrier material shaped to substantially encircle the target region and a first pharmacological agent provided to the carrier material. The first pharmacological agent is to be released from the carrier material during a first period of time and introduced to the target region.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to drug-delivery systems, and more particularly, to a method and device for controllably delivering a pharmacological agent to a local target region of tissue over a desired period of time. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The immune system of the human body can overcompensate for the presence of foreign matter within the body, even when the foreign matter has been introduced in an effort to rectify a potentially fatal condition. For example, hemodialysis is a conventional method for treating a vast majority of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients. Hemodialysis access grafts can experience failure rates of up to 50-80% at one year due in part to venous stenosis. Venus stenosis is caused by intimal hyperplasia (1H) arising from graft compliance mismatch, flow turbulence, shear stress, vessel stretch, surgical trauma, mural ischemia, and luminal accumulation of various biochemical factors released from deposited fibrin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a medical device for delivering pharmacological agents to a target region of tissue. The device includes a resilient carrier material and two pharmacological agents, one of which is released from the carrier material during a first period of time and introduced to the target region, while the other is released from the carrier material and introduced during a second period of time that extends beyond the expiration of the first period of time. The device can also include a barrier layer to minimize release of the pharmacological agents from the carrier material to an ambient environment at an undesirable location. The technical effects of the invention include controlled delivery of pharmacological agents to a target region of tissue and the ability to deliver multiple agents at different rates.

Problems solved by technology

Such a combination can induce thrombosis, and ultimately failure of the hemodialysis graft.

However, because CyA is an immuno-suppressive agent, it is not recommended for systematic administration to ESDR patients, and instead, should be delivered locally to the desired target-tissue region.

But this is also problematic in that the entire dose of the therapeutic substance is simultaneously delivered to the target region.

Since the therapeutic substance is also delivered to the other environments exposed to the surfaces of the hydrogel, it is difficult to accurately predict the dosage of the therapeutic substance that is actually delivered to the target region.

Although this hydrogel sheet was adaptable to accommodate a target tissue region of any shape, it proved to be difficult to apply and secure to the target region of tissue.

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